October 16, 2015
Mr. Robert B. Alexander, Jr.
615 Carys Chapel Rd
Yorktown, VA 23693-2509
Dear Mr. Alexander:
Thank you for contacting me to express your opinion on the upcoming House of Representatives Republican Party leadership elections. I appreciate you taking the time to contact me. I value your views on the important issues facing our Commonwealth and the Nation.
As you know, on September, 25 2015, Representative John Boehner announced he would be stepping down as the Speaker of the House of Representatives and would retire Oct. 30, 2015. To date, the House Republican Conference has not elected a candidate for the office of Speaker. The election for Speaker in the full House of Representatives is currently scheduled to occur on October 29, 2015. However, I would like to inform you that I did not support Representative Kevin McCarthy for Speaker, because I believe the Republican Conference needs a new direction and new leadership in the Speaker's Chair.
I appreciate hearing your concerns about the ability of Speaker Boehner and the elected Republican Leadership to lead the Party, and I would like to share with you the critical priorities that I believe must be addressed by any candidate running for Speaker or other leadership positions within the Republican Caucus. I have personally written to every candidate for leadership, including Speaker, to outline these priorities and to request each candidate's position on these critical issues.
It is no secret that the American public is frustrated with Washington, and rightly so. For too long, Congress has failed to fund the federal government in a responsible, long-term manner, and I have consistently argued that Congress should return to doing business on schedule and end the current cycle of crisis management and stop-gap budget measures. That's why I introduced two pieces of reform legislation, the No Budget, No Pay Act (H.R. 174) and the Stay on Schedule resolution (H.Res.17). The No Budget, No Pay Act would prohibit members of Congress from being paid if a budget resolution is not passed by April 15 of each year. The Stay on Schedule resolution would amend House rules to prevent the House from taking an August recess unless it has passed all regular appropriations bills by July 31. Additional legislation to change the annual budgeting process to a biennial budgeting process should also be considered. This would allow Congress to complete its budget resolution and appropriations bills in the first year of each Congress, and conduct critical oversight of federal programs in the second year. These are simple, commonsense initiatives that will allow our nation's elected leaders to show their constituents that they are serious about getting the job done and will end this cycle of uncertainty and decision-making by crisis.
Additionally, I believe we must end the defense budget sequester level caps and restore national defense spending to proper levels for national security. If defense sequestration is allowed to continue it will have devastating effects on our ability to defend our nation and interests around the world. The new Speaker must outline a plan to end the defense sequester caps and restore defense funding levels to at least FY2012 levels adjusted for inflation.
Since being elected to Congress, I have consistently fought for accountability from congressional leadership. It is my belief that the Speaker of the House takes direction from the House Republican Conference, and it is the responsibility of every member of the Conference to hold congressional leadership accountable to the people. Now more than ever, I believe it our duty as Republicans to hold the new leadership responsible for their actions, and I will do that with every ounce of energy I have.
Thank you again for sharing your views and opinions with me on the important issues facing our Nation. I pledge to you that I will continue to work hard on your behalf and to fight for the principles that will continue to make this Nation great. I honestly would not be able to serve the First Congressional District of Virginia without hearing from great folks like you. As we move forward, your input on these pivotal issues will be extremely important, so please keep in touch with me via telephone at (202) 225-4261, through my website (www.wittman.house.gov), on Facebook (www.facebook.com/reprobwittman), or via Twitter (www.twitter.com/robwittman).
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